Excavating, elevating, and loading machine



Dec. 2, 1930. H. K. cLEMoNs EXCAVATING, ELEWATINGrJ AND LOADING MACHINE 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1927 R. www www www m www www w VL m G 1.1 ...|lt... .uw o ...5. M OQ ,nu mo` 4 ww M ww wwww wwwoo w C?. w? ww wwwU www ww m, www w Q, I' o www www .ww www ww I www wwww .w iw ww o mw\ w www www ww www ww mmm l| wwwwww l ww www I J, 1 ww \w\ N\ n v v M mm .rl .fh/k/fww Il w wwl WNW www 1. w ww xww .www

Dec. 2, 1930. `H. K. cLEMoNS EXCAVATING) ELEVATINGl AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 2,l 1930 i y N UNITED4 ,STATES PATENT OFFICE Y i ,I Hanni( K; cnnivrons, or snPAUL, MiNNEsoTA i ,.nxcavnrine, nLEvAA'rIZNG, Ann nonnina MACHINE u Appiicationfueanugus 3, 1927. lseriai No. 210,306.

This invention relates to an excavating and ous positions and holding .the same Ain said dirt moving machine and particularly to such position. f f ainacliine which is drawn along the ground lt isstill another object of the invention and removes a layer of dirt or earth,` which to provide an excavating, elevating and load- 5 is loaded into the machine or into an adjacent ing machine comprising a vehicle adapted to 55 vehicle.I Such machines are commonly used be drawn along the ground having an axle, a in building and grading roads.' It is desir'- pair ofv supporting wheels, one of which able to have a machine which will load the forms an excavating wheel and is-rigidly sedirt as it is removed "from-theroad or` surcured to said axle, theot'herwheel being ar.

face being worked, soA that the dirt can be rangedto be rigidly connected 'tosaid axle 6u transported at any desired distance. orto move relatively thereto.

,V Itis'an objectof this invention, therefore, These'and other objects and advantages toprovide a dirt removing'andlading maofthe invention willbe fnlly set forth in the chine comprising a vehicle adapted to be following description made in connection `drawn along the ground,having one or more with the accompanying drawings, in which blades for removing the earth/and having like reference characters refer to similar .f anV elevating wheel' adapted to receive the parts throughout the several views and in earth moved by 'said bladesr and elevating the which, V i i i same so that it may be discharged into the 'I'Figl 1 is a view'in side 'elevation of the de vehicle. vice; y Y 70 It is anotherobj ect of the invention to'pro- Fig. 2 "is a view yin vertical sectiontaken vide an excavating and loadingmachine comsubstantially on lin'eQ-Q of Fig; 1; prising a vehicle adapted to be drawngalong Fig.` 3 is a central vertical section through the groundand having a dirt receiving body, one of the wheels; an elevating wheel, means for removing the Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of one of 'le dirt from the surface Worked into said wheel, the wheels as seen from the left of Fig. 2; together with means `for'directin'g the"v dirt Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the device, from said wheel'into 'said body or onto a consoine portions being omitted; v eyor'carried by saidbody by means of which Fig. 6 is a partial horizontal section, taken It is still another object of the invention cated `by the arrow; and

to provide Van excavatingand loading ma- Fig. 7 is' a horizontalsection taken sub"- chine comprising a vehicle adaptedV to be stantially on line 7-7 ofF ig. 1,' as indicated drawn along the' groundl having a pair 4of by the arrow.l

supporting wheels one of which isan-elevat- Referring to the drawings a machine is S5 ing wheel into' `which the dirt is moved and shown having supporting wheels 10 and 11.

elevated and having another wheel moving Thewheel 11 is constructed landarranged as along the ground disposed adjacent to the an elevating wheeLVas later described, yand side of said elevating wheel and forming a said wheel has a hub ,portion 11a which is ing provided for yieldingly holding said llast tends through a tube 13 formingbearings for mentioned wheel inposition 1 said axle, which tube 13 is rigidly carried in It is a further objectfof the invention to the sides 14a of a body member 14, 'which provide an excavating, elevating and loadbody member is thus carried on the axle and ing machine comprising a vehicle adapted to member 13. The tube 13 at one end projects 95 be drawn along the ground having an elevatinto the recess in the-inner end of hub 10a`of ing wheel and a plurality of blades for removthe wheel 10, said wheel being normally v ing the dirt from the surface worked and dijournaled on the axle 12, said hub having recting the sameinto saidwheel,` together clutclrteth 10b at one end formingia half with'means'fsajuaingan bladen@ vat clutch.' adapted to comparate with a half la? itcan be discharged into another vehicle. v substantiallya'on line 6-6 vof Fig. 1, as indi- S0 'i partial closure therefor, meanspreferably bekeyed to one end of axle 12, which axle exclutch member slidable on the outer end of axle 12 and non-rotatably secured thereto by the pin 16 extending through said axle and a slot 15a in member 15. The member 15 has a circumferential groove 15b into which project pins 17 carried on a clutch fork lever 18, which lever is pivoted on the pivot 19 carried on a bracket 2O secured at one end to one side member 14a and also to g a brace member 21 which is also secured to the side of the body 14. Lever 18 from pivot 19 extends inwardly at an angle toward body 14 and has the handle portion 18a which is flattened and disposed in a vertical plane and adapted to be held in engagement with any one of a plurality of teeth on a ratchet bar 22 projecting outwardly from the rear end of the body 14. It will be seen that movement of the end 18a of lever 18 will move the half clutch 15 longitudinally of axle 12.

The wheel 11 has the radially disposed spokes 11?) bent at their outer ends and secured to the rim 110, said spokes being alternately secured at their inner ends to opposite sides of the hub flange 11d. Inside of spokes 11b an annular flange or plate 11e extends about wheel 11. Another plate 11g of cylindrical form is disposed adjacent the inner edge of plate 11e, thus forming an annular trough 11h in wheel 11. The wheel 11 has secured about its rim within said trough a plurality of slightly curved plates 11]c arranged. in overlapping relation, as shown in Fig. 4 and riveted at their ends to the rim 110.

A shaft 23 extends through and issec-ured in bearings 23?) in sides 14a of the body, being adjustably held in place by the collar 23a thereon and a wheel 24 is journaled on the outer end of said shaft being urged away from the body by a coiled compression spring 25 surrounding shaft 23 and moving said wheel and shaft toward wheel 11 the position of wheel 24 being adjustable by adjustable stop collar 23a. The wheel 24 has a flat outer face which moves in close proximity to the inner edge of wheel 11, thus formi ng a partial closure for the trough 11h. A plate 26 is provided having its lower edge shaped to extend closely around the top portion of wheel24 an d said plate is yieldingly urged outwardly toward the side of wheel 11, by coiled compression .springs 27 surrounding shafts 28, the inner ends of which are slidably mounted in bearings 29 secured to the side member 14a. The shafts 28 carry `pins 30 projecting into slots 29a in the bearings 29, which pins limit the outward movement of shafts 28. Said shafts carry adjacent their outer ends the circular plates 31 which are pinned thereto and these plates have flat outer faces disposed adjacent the plate 26 or in contact therewith, the space between said outer faces and the edge of wheel 11 being slightly greater than the thickness of plate 26. Plate 26 is bolted to the circular plates 31.

rlhe body 14 has a bottom comprising hinged sections 145 hinged at their outer edges to the lower sides of the body and adapted to swing downwardly. Said sections are moved to closed position by chains 32 secured thereto and extending rearwardly where they are secure to a shaft 33 rotatably mounted in the sides 14a and provided with a ratchet wheel 34 at one end, with which cooperates an actuating pawl 35 carried on a lever 36 pivoted on shaft 33. A stop dog or pawl 37 also co-operates with ratchet wheel 34. Said body has a rear wall 140 and a step platform 14d extends rearwardly from the rear end of said body. Bars 38, shown as in the form of angle bars, project forwardly from the front end of the body, being secured in any pair of a plurality of holes 39a in transverse bars 39 disposed at the front of the body and forming part of the frame thereof. Bars 38 having plates 40 of arcuate shape are secured thereto in spaced relation forming a guiding and supporting means for a ring plate'41, which plate has bearings 41a secured thereto in which are journaled the trunnions of a. castor wheel 42. The bearings 41a are engaged by the ends of a fork member 43, the sides of which project forwardly and have secured therebetween at their forward ends the clevis 44 to which the traction means for the device will be attached.

A plurality of blades are provided for removing dirt from the surface worked and directing the same to the wheel 11, and while the number of these blades and the arrangement thereof may be varied, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, two of said blades 45 and 46 are shown. The blade 45 is carried on bars 47 secured' to the rear side thereof by the clamping member 48, said bars extending forwardly and being secured together by the plate 49 and havingr their front ends pivoted on pivot 50 carried in plates 51 depending from the under side of the forward member 39. Bars 47 have the rods 52 secured thereto, the upper ends of which are secured to sleeves 53, which sleeves have longitudinally exten ding slots 53a therethrough. Rods 54 extend into the sleeves 53 and have lateral extensions or pin-s o4@ thereon extending' into the slots 53a. The upper ends of rods 54 are adapted to be engaged in any pair of va`plurality of holes 55a formed in the end of a lever 55, pivoted in a bracket 56 secured to the front of body 14 which lever has a pawl thereon adapted to seat in any one of a plurality of notches 57a formed on a segmental bracket 57 secured to a bar 14e, which extends along the side of the front wall of the body 14. The pawl on lever 55 is actuated by the usual pawl handle 58. Collars 59 are secured to the rods iol) `lever 55.

mea-462 54 above sleeves53 and. coiledsprings60v sur'- round .said rods and are disposed 'between' 62.` The bars-.61 and rods 63`. a`re secured to the sleeves 64 and rods 65 extend into the upper ends of said sleevesand have extensions projecting (said Aprojectionsnot shown) into slots similar to the projections. 54a on` rods 54. i The rods 65 are secured in one pair of a pluralityof holes 66a formed in a lever 6G which lis rotatably'mounted on the sleeve 13 and provided with a series of teeth 666 at its upper edge with which meshes va worm gear 67 secured to shaft 68 journaled in bearings 69 secured totheside 14a'of'- the body, shaft 68l extending 'rearwardly and havinga crank portion or handle 68a atl its rear end disposed atone side and above the step platform 14d. The rods 65 have collars() secured thereto and coiled springs 71 aredisposed between said collars and theupper ends of1s1eeves'64.

An endless conveyor 72``is`provided Comprsing an'endless sheetof flexible material moving overrollers carried respectively on shafts' 73 'and 7 4,1`the latter'beifngmonnted in brackets-secured tothe conveyor frame 72a, which carries bearings 72b pivoted bythe pivotTG to the members 146, one vof which 1s disposed at either side of the The shaft Y 3 is carried in bearings 77 secured' to the inner sideof the side) members 14a and has a sprocket wheel7 8 secured ltoits outer end Vover which runs a chain 79. Ghain 9 also runs-over a sprocket -inember 801jon'rnaled on the sleeve 13 which sprocketwis in the form of a half clutch 'adapted toV engage with the half clutch 10c formed on the inner end of the hub 10c' of wheel 10.` VThe member 8() is provided with a'circumferential groove a engaged by theendof` a clutch fork lever 81 pivoted at 82 to a bar projecting from the body and havingits rear vend providedrwith a handle portion 81a adapted to beheldin engagement with any one of a series of ratchet teeth on aratchet bar 83 secured tothe body 14. The conveyor frame has a downwardly extending bracket 86 on its bottom having. a plurality of holes therein through one of which passes al pin87V also adapted to pass thro-ugh any one cfa plurality of holes formedin a bar 88 pivoted on the pivot Vof With thiscon'struction they conveyor?` 2- may be tiltedY about pivot"7,"it` being understood that the `chainf'' Q will have to be lengthened or shorten-ed accordingly. A deflecting member., 84` extends with its inner end ina forwardl'yinclined ydirection and projects into thetrough 11h, saidrdeflector havinga triangular-shaped inneribottom portion or ange-84w andbeingysupported on the member secured toene of the side members 14a.-

In operation the machine will be drawn along the ground by suitable traction means connected to clevis 44. The plates'45 and 46 will be adjusted to the desired height by means of lever 55 and crank 68a respectively and the bottom sections 145 ofthe body will be inclosed position, as shown in Fig. 2. If it is desired to load the dirtinto t-he body 14 the rear end of conveyor 72fwill be raised above the deflecting means 84, said -member being moved for this purpose. As the ma-k chine advances along the vground the blade 45 will scrape off or excavate a layer of earth which will be directed to the inner end of said blade due to the inclination thereof and this vdirt will be engaged by the blade 46. `This may move at a lower-level and excavate further dirt. The earth from blade 46 will be moved outwardly and directed into the Ytrough :11h of` wheel 11. As the wheeljadvances its rear side will move upwardly and the dirt will be carried upwardly in VSaid wheel alongthe side of wheel 24, which' will g roll in contact with the ground: and assist in moving said. earth. The earth,` dirt, etc., move upward in. the Vwheel being retained therein by the plate 26 and is eventually scraped from and deflected'out of the wheel :f

by member 84,4said member directing the `dirt inwardly over member 85 and bottom member 84a into the body 14. `When the body 14has been'filled with dirt the blades 45 and 46 may be'raised and the Vehicle taken to the desired place where the dirt can be dumped by rotating shaft 33 bythe ratchet lever 36. Pawl 'will be disengaged and the weight of the dirt .will.usually rotate shaft 33 and the bottom `sections14b willV drop downwardlyV and the. dirt is thus dumped. The bottom may' again be closed by manipulation of lever'36' afterwhichpawl 37 will be again engaged withratchet 34. The springs 60 and 71 yieldinglyholdthe blades 45 and 46 down in opera-tive position but will yield as said blades are moved upwardly by the shock ofencountering; astone or other hard object. It will be seen that the plates llf'greatly strengthen the rim 11o of wheel 11 and the exposed edgesof said plates also assistin moving the dirt upwardly. The wheel is thuskeptfrom getting linto elliptical form. If itis desired to move the dirt into another vehicle the conveyor 72 wil-l be adjusted sov thatitsrear end is beneath the deflecting memberv 84rand thedirt ,deflected from wheelfll willthen bedischarged` on the conveyor. Lever 8l will be moved to en.- gage the half clutcli'tliwith hub 10c.; The chain 79 will then' be driven byrotatio'n of wheel 10 andfthD conveyor'will be moved to convey the. excavated] materia-h forwardly where it may be discharged into the body of a. vehicle. immediately in front` ofthe machine. It will be seen that by moving lever 18 clutch member 15 may be connected to the hub 10a and the wheel 10 will then be rigidly connected to axle 12 so that both wheels will turn with the axle and assist in handling the dirt. The wheel 24 and plate 26 are yieldingly held in close proximity to wheel 11 and may thus move away from said wheel if great pressure is exerted thereon or a stone should become jammed in the wheel 11. The machine can be effectively steered by the castor wheel 42 which can be rotated on its plate 41 and the line of draft shifted laterally by adjustment of members 88.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very eilicient machine for excavating, elevating, transporting andloading excavated material. The parts of the machine are all visible and the manipulating elements are conveniently arranged for operation. The blades or plows are yieldingly mounted and these can be turned to various positions by having the ends of the bars 47 or G1 extend more or less into the clamps at the rear of the blades. rlhe Wheel 24 and plate 26 are mounted for yielding movement under extreme strain. The double blade or plow system is very useful on road work, one blade acting to cut down the banks ahead of the wheel 11 anddirect the plowed material to the second blade. The blades can be used independently or simultanenously, as desired. Both of the wheels can be used to drive the conveyor by connecting the wheel 10 to the axle 12. The conveyor` can be moved to operative or inoperative position. An effective draft is always possible on the machine owing tothe swivel castor wheel 42.

Itwill, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth and novel parts and combination of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a vehicle having a body adapted to be drawn along the ground, a pair of wheels support-- ing said body, one of said wheels being constructed and arranged to form an elevating means, an axle supported by said body to which said last mentioned wheel is secured, the other of said pair of Wheels being journaled on said axle, and means for connecting and disconnecting said last mentioned wheel to said axle.

2. In a machine of the class described, a vehicle having a body adapted to be drawn along the ground, a pair of wheels supporting said'body, one of said wheels being constructed and arranged to form an elevating mea-ns, an axle to which said last mentioned wheel is secured, a sleeve extending through and supported by said body in which said axle is journaled, the other of said wheels being journaled on said axle and clutch means at the outer side of said other wheel for connecting and disconnecting the same and said axle.

3. In a machine of the class described, a vehicle having a pair of supporting wheels and adapted to be drawn along the ground, one of said wheels having an annular trough formed therein open at its inner side constituting an elevating means, an auxiliary wheel having a iiat outer surface disposed in close proximity to the inner side of said Wheel, and resilient means urging said auxiliary wheel toward said first mentioned wheel.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, a plate disposed above said auxiliary wheel and fitting about the upper portion thereof, and resilient means for moving said plate outwardly in close proximity to the inner side of said first mentioned wheel, said auxiliary wheel and said plate forming a closure for said trough.

5. In a machine of the class described, an elevating wheel comprising a rim, an annular cylindrical member disposed within'said rim, a plate at the side of said member formingv a trough between said rim and member, and a plurality of slightly curved plates disposed inside of said rim in overlapping relation and secured thereto.

6. In a machine of the class described, a pair of supporting wheels, one of which is constructed and arranged as an elevating Wheel, an axle to which said wheel is secured, said other wheel being journaled on said axle and having a hub with a half clutch formed at each end, means secured to said axle comprising a half clutch adapted to be moved into engagement with said hub to connect said hub and axle, a conveyor adapted to receive material from said elevating wheel, driving means for said conveyor comprising a member forming a half clutch slidable on said axle, and means for moving said last mentioned member into and out of engagement with said hub of said second mentioned wheel.

7. An elevating wheel for an excavating machine having a bearing rim, a plurality of trussing and supporting plates secured to the inner side of said rim in over-lapped relation, said plates assisting in the elevation ofv material in said Wheel.

.8. A` machine of the class described having in combination a vehicle having a body adapted to be drawn along the ground, a

pair of wheels supporting said vehicle, one of which is constructed and arranged as an elevating wheel and is movable about a. substantially horizontal axis, a blade disposed in front of said wheel to excavate material from the path thereof and deliver the same at one side of said Wheel and a second blade disposed in the rear of said rst mentioned blade and receivin therefrom and disposed at a loWer level t an said irst mentioned blade and at the side of said Wheel in a position to direct material thereto.

9. A machine of the class described having in combination a vehicley having a body adapted to be drawn along the ground, an axle carried by said body, a pair of Wheels supporting said aXle, one of Which is constructed and arranged as an elevating Wheel and is movable about a substantially horizontal axis, said Wheel having elevating means on its inner side, an adjustable blade disposed in front of said Wheel to eXcavate material from the path of said Wheel and being inclined to direct said material toward the inner side of said Wheel, a second blade inclined in a direction opposite to said first mentioned blade and adapted to receive material therefrom and direct the same out- Wardly toward said Wheel.

In testimony Whereof I alX my signature.

HARRY K. CLEMONS. 

